DENVER (AP) — Pat Surtain II picked off a pair of passes and his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown powered the Denver Broncos past the injury-riddled Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 on Sunday, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the storied AFC West series.
Rookie Bo Nix had a breakout day with a pair of touchdown passes after coming into the game with just one. He also ran for a score as Denver scored 34 unanswered points after falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter.
Completing passes to a franchise-record 11 players, Nix finished 19 of 27 for 206 yards, two TDs and no interceptions as the Broncos (3-2) secured their first win over the Raiders (2-3) since Dec. 29, 2019, a confounding dry spell given how evenly matched the teams have been over the last several seasons.
First-year starter Riley Moss also intercepted Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew, his first career interception coming one week after his first career fumble recovery and two weeks after the first forced fumble of his two-year career.
It also ended Minshew’s day.
He was replaced by former starter Aidan O’Connell with 1:31 left in the third quarter with Las Vegas trailing 20-10. Minshew, who was missing superstar Davante Adams (ankle) for the second straight week, finished 12 of 17 for 137 yards with one touchdown, two inteceptions and a pair of sacks after completing his first nine passes for 115 yards.
His 10th went 100 yards in the other direction as the Broncos erased their early double-digit deficit on their way to a big win on a day they honored their first Super Bowl team of 1977.
Surtain intercepted O’Connell’s first pass of his second series, giving Nix the ball back at the Las Vegas 39 shortly after his 1-yard keeper made it 27-10, and he promptly hit Josh Reynolds for a 9-yard score.
O’Connell went 10 of 20 for 94 yards and an interception.
Overall, the Raiders ran for just 5 yards in the second half. They had 110 by halftime.
Before kickoff, Randy Gradishar was honored as the first member of the famed “Orange Crush” defense to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Two of his teammates, Steve Foley and Riley Odoms, were inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame at halftime as the signage, field (with block letters and no midfield logo) and stadium music were all reminiscent of the 1970s.
So was Denver’s stout defense, which throttled the Raiders after some early hiccups.
The Raiders’ offense may have a harder time breaking out of its funk as Adams this week made it clear he’d rather play for another organization.
The Broncos took a 13-10 halftime lead when Wil Lutz kicked a second-chance 44-yard field goal with no time left. He was wide left from 59 yards but Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson was whistled for a 15-yard personal foul for leaping over the snapper.
The Raiders scored on Brock Bowers’ 57-yard touchdown catch and Daniel Carlson’s 40-yard field goal and were threatening to take a 17-3 lead when Minshew rolled to his left on first-and-goal from the 5 and had Bowers open.
His throw sailed over Bowers’ head and Surtain, who was covering Jakobi Meyers, cradled the ball at his own goal line and took off down the Denver sideline. The only Raider who had a chance to prevent the turnaround touchdown was Minshew, but he was bowled over by rookie linebacker Jonah Ellis 35 yards downfield and Surtain trotted into the end zone with the ball held high.
Surtain’s 100-yard TD return was the second-longest in team history behind only Aqib Talib’s 103-yarder against Dallas in 2017.
Injuries
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby played despite a sprained ankle and had two sacks. DT Christian Wilkins also got a sack but he sat out the second half with a foot injury. … Broncos RB Tyler Badie (back) was placed on IR over the weekend. … C Matt Wattenberg left in the fourth quarter with an unspecified injury. … TE Greg Dulcich was a healthy scratch. And RT Alex Palczewski (ankle) was replaced by Matt Peart in the second half. Palczewski has been starting in place of Mike McGlinchey (knee).
Up next
Raiders: host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Broncos: host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
